Shai Hope fights, as does Babar but Pakistan emerge victorious

When you need to defend six runs off the final over but with the opposition having nearly half a dozen wickets in the tank, there's not an awful lot you can do unless you're a Malcolm Marshall, Allan Donald or Sir Curtly Ambrose.

But bowling the fiftieth over to Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nawaz was 20-year-old ODI newcomer Jayden Seales.

And while the rip-roaring up-and-coming seamer did bowl the first one a dot, he simply lacked the experience to repeat his effort; the second delivery of the final over went for a humongous six several rows into the crowds.

Interestingly, Nawaz finished it on his own; the dangerous Khushdil Shah, unbeaten at the other end, wasn't even needed. 

There was so little Seales could do. But it wasn't his fault, to be honest. 

Much of the blame rested and sans any bias with how the other West Indian bowlers went about defending a target that Pakistan should've never walked away with, given the sheer support of the bulk of runs their batters put. 

Well, not when 41 were needed off 23 with both Rizwan and Babar back in the dugout. 

So how did the West Indies squander a game that they should ideally have won? Moreover, what key moments from the opening game, a belter of a contest, stand out? 

Shai Hope shows his class yet again

Hope entered the contest just a little over a hundred runs away from touching 4000 ODI runs. 

That he left the first game having touched the famous landmark in what was just his eighty-eighth inning was indeed special. 

Just as the fact in doing so, the Barbadian found himself in elite company, tied with Sir Viv Richards as the third fastest overall in ODI cricket to get to 4,000 runs. 

That Hope reached a vital milestone in some style; crafting a twelfth century was both special and an incredible way to begin the series. 

In the thirty-ninth over, a beautiful cover drive off Hasan Ali saw the dashing Bajan reach yet another three-figure score, his second this year in ODI cricket. And that he carried his bat well onto the forty-fourth over was a demonstration of great stamina and the will to fight on. 

What the West Indies and their captain, in particular, need to do is to ensure that such valiant batting efforts don't go to vain and that the team can actually rally behind urgent batting efforts instead of simply chanting the phrase "rally", which beautifully embodies the cultural spirit of Caribbean cricket. 

The West Indies opening duo get into the skin of a difficult Pakistani line-up

After losing Mayers in the third over that, not a single wicket fell until the thirtieth was a testimony to how Hope and Brooks stuck to the cause and thus, made a contest of a game where Pakistan bowlers could easily have ruled. 

While Hope was seen batting with a beautiful tempo, scoring a touch quicker than his usually watchful standards, Shamarh Brooks lent all the support West Indies' best batter needed to solidify his team's position. 

The two put on a solid, respectable and much needed 154-run stand that also shows others in the Pooran led side that for as long as one applies himself, vital runs can be scored against Shadab, Afridi, Rauf and company.

Brooks' 70 was another exhibition of graceful batting and must encourage the others in the dressing room- Mayers and King- both of whom missed out to come good in the next games. 

Can the Windies' top three, should Kyle Mayers get going, come good again?

The lordly Mr. Babar Azam 

Let it be reminded that Babar, among the best batters in business today, entered to contest at the back of 536 ODI runs versus his opponent, which included 4 centuries. He eventually left the stadium after having struck a fifth ODI ton versus the Caribbean side, having mounted an average that would leave Sachin, Lara, Saeed Anwar, Mark Waugh and even Kohli breathless: 91. 

Knowing his usually high standards, what was obviously expected was another batting masterclass.

But truth be told, the way the bowlers contained Babar initially didn't seem like such a thing would happen. 

At one stage of the run chase, Babar was on 27 off 41. Imam was fast approaching a fifty at the other end, who was in the rhythm. 

But the right-hander went from operating in a defensive mindset into that of an aggressor. 

Fluent strokes on either side of the wicket, not all of which had power but essentially carried the fragrance of timing, saw Babar turn into the Windies' horsewhipped. 

Babar, who batted beautifully- but also cautiously- for thirty-five overs, made great use of the square region and was fluent in converting ones into twos. Always keen to put pressure on a side never really regarded for its staggering fielding standards. 

Going forward, if the West Indies desire to come back in the series, it'll be silly to doubt their potential; they've got to get either Babar or Rizwan early. Or better yet, get two of the most dangerous hitters of the white ball early. 

Thoughtless seam bowling by West Indians, one lacking application, particularly in the death 

There's not much one can say besides stating that the West Indies seam bowling let the team down in a contest that was definitely theirs for the taking. 

Before Alzarri Joseph, the most experienced of the fast bowling lot took Babar Azam and Shadab Khan's wicket, the lanky Antiguan was bowling at six an over.

Until such time, Seales, a talented but utterly inexperienced campaigner, was faring more economically; he'd even gotten the dangerous rapturous hitter Zaman out early.

But in the series' first game, it wasn't hard to see the Windies' bowlers contending minus a particular plan. 

While Kyle Mayers, barring his impressive- if also a tad bit surprising- fifer in Tests against England, is yet to prove a case for being a medium pacer fully, one's not sure if Romario Shepherd is bowling with a direction and objective in mind.

Not for the first time, and we've seen instances of the right arm being picked for aplenty in limited-overs contests in the Caribbean, was Shepherd simply pummelled. 

Bowling far too often in the slot, and if not then, living dangerously by over pitching it, there was grimace in the Windies camp with Shepherd constantly being picked for runs and doing little or even nothing to correct himself. 

You ought to be considerate if a 20-year-old Seales concedes one too many or misses his line. 

But just how do you deal with Romario Shepherd (9 overs, 70 runs), who has against his name 25 first class and 41 List- A games? 

Surely, Shepherd is new to the limited overs content, but it didn't help his cause or team's when he did little to rectify his line, bowling regularly in Khushdil's zone only to be sent several rows into the stands. 

Moreover, the dated and quintessentially lethargic West Indian approach of bowling one extra too many, and there were 13 wides in this instance, didn't help the team's cause. 

On the other hand, if it helps in any way, Pakistan bowled just five wides. 

While Hosein did try to keep things tight, picking the big wicket of Imam, it didn't help that the Trinidadian didn't get any support whatsoever from Hayden Walsh at the other end, the leg spinner going for nearly eight an over. 

If the West Indies are to fight back in the series, they'll have to find a way to add the very element that often eschews their bowling: discipline. 

Khushdil Shah's game-changing effort

Pakistan still needed 69 off 51 deliveries at the fall of Babar's wicket, which the Windies would've thought was quite containable and hence, a winning situation.  

But little did they know that the new batsman was one who, since 2016 in List-A cricket, has hit the most number of sixes for Pakistan: Khushdil Shah. 

The unassuming left-hander kept quiet for the first few deliveries, but the way he anchored the chase in its final, definitive period was worthy of massive appreciation.

His attacking of Shepherd, in particular, was impressive and steered Pakistan during a phase that could've been critical and truth be told, could've gone either way. 

With twenty-one needed off twelve, if you collect the lion's share of fifteen runs from the penultimate over, leaving just six to get from the eventual one, you've anyways done full justice to your talent. 

And leave your opponent's back broken, lest it is forgotten! 

His four lanky sixes, including one hit barrel straight down the ground, was one of the opening game's stunning highlights.